Functional-medicine physician Dr. Casey Kelley, MD (Case Integrative Health) joins hosts Dan Wagner and Kenzie Vath to unpack why chronic Lyme is rarely “just Lyme.” We dig into co-infections (Babesia, Bartonella), POTS/dysautonomia, mold + MCAS, nervous-system regulation, and the biggest myths about testing and treatment. Dr. Kelley explains when antibiotics vs. herbs make sense (minocycline, rifampin/rifabutin, malarone/tafenoquine, dapsone, pulsing strategies), why gut + liver support determine tolerance, and how diet (gluten/dairy/sugar), vagus nerve work, and 80/20 consistency accelerate recovery. We also cover long-COVID overlap, ILADS clinician training, and what a “medical detective” intake actually looks like.If you or a loved one is navigating persistent Lyme symptoms, this episode offers actionable next steps, and hope.

Quick takeaways

• ​It’s rarely just Lyme. Co-infections, mold, and MCAS commonly overlap.
• ​Protocols are personalized. Antibiotics and herbs both have a place; tolerance and gut health decide the pace.
• ​Foundations first. Removing gluten, dairy, sugar + consistent stress regulation often unlock progress.
• ​Nervous system > everything. Breathwork and vagus-nerve inputs calm inflammation loops.
• ​Clinician training matters. ILADS offers a path for complex-illness care.
• ​Case Integrative Health (Chicago): discovery calls, team-based care
• ​ILADS: fundamentals, preceptorships, international conferences
• ​Groundwork for Healing (Dr. Kelley’s course): diet, sleep, stress, detox basics
• ​Tools: Apollo Neuro, compression, high-salt hydration (for POTS)

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